Treatment:

Treatment is directed at the cause of hypercalcemia whenever possible. In cases of hyperparathyroidism, surgery may be needed to remove the abnormal parathyroid gland and cure the hypercalcemia.

If your hypercalcemia is mild and caused by primary hyperparathyroidism, your health care provider will follow you closely over time.

Severe hypercalcemia that causes symptoms and requires a hospital stay is treated with the following:

• Calcitonin
• Dialysis
• Drugs that stop bone breakdown and absorption by the body, such as pamidronate or etidronate (bisphosphonates)
• Fluids through a vein (intravenous fluids)
• Glucocorticoids (steroids)

Expectations (prognosis):

How well you do depends on the cause of hypercalcemia. Patients with mild hyperparathyroidism or hypercalcemia with a treatable cause (for example, primary hyperparathyroidism or dietary hypervitaminosis D) may not have complications.

Patients with hypercalcemia due to conditions such as cancer or granulomatous disease may not do well due to the disease itself, rather than to the hypercalcemia.

Complications:

Gastrointestinal

• Hypertension
• Pancreatitis
• Peptic ulcer disease

Kidney

• Calcium deposits in the kidney (nephrocalcinosis)
• Dehydration
• Kidney failure
• Kidney stones

Psychological

• Depression
• Difficulty concentrating or thinking

Skeletal

• Bone cysts
• Fractures
• Osteoporosis

The complications of long-term hypercalcemia are uncommon today.

Calling your health care provider:

Contact your physician or health care provider if you have:

• Family history of hypercalcemia
• Family history of hyperparathyroidism
• Symptoms of hypercalcemia